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Monday, January 5, 2009

Nativity Sets

I love my nativity sets. I've written before about the different collections our family enjoys. Christmas is no different. At Christmas-time, our family unpacks the Christmas-themed Hershey tins, nesting santas, ceramic santa mugs, and nativity sets. At last count, I own five nativity sets. Two were given to me by my mother. Two I purchased at discount or thrift stores and one I purchased while travelling.

I put a nativity set in each room of the house at Christmas time. We even have one in the bathroom! It is my way of reminding myself of the reason for this magical season.

A few years ago, we even purchased a nativity set just for our boys. They loved my nativities, but I couldn't let them play with them because most of them are very fragile. So we bought a a set just for children by play mobile. Even though they have outgrown playing with the figures in their set, they still set it up each year. As a matter of fact, I let the boys arrange each of our nativity sets when we are putting up the Christmas decorations. I love the way they do it. Every figure is clustered around baby Jesus looking at him, even the animals. I always think that is the way Christmas should be celebrated, with every eye focused on Jesus, every head tilted toward Him, every body facing Him.

Keep in mind that although I can take pictures with my digital camera, I can't see the pictures I am taking with our digital camera. So, I've taken pictures of our nativity sets to share with you, but they may not be the greatest. At least you will get the idea of how we display them throughout our house. Enjoy your tour!

This is our "big" nativity. It was given to my mother by my uncle. He used to produce wonderful ceramic pieces.

This was another piece I believe my Uncle painted. It has been broken at the base of two of the pieces, but I still display it. The picture cuts off Mary and Jospeh's head, but you get the idea.

This nativity is actually the base of a beautiful music box. My mom gave it to us for Christmas a few years ago.

This nativity sets on the shelf in our bathroom. I purchased it at a thrift store a few years ago.

This is a horrible picture of the cute little glass set I have on the shelf above the sink. This was a dollar/discount store purchase several years ago.

And this little painted wooden shelf-sitter stays on my kitchen window-sill year-round to remind me of the baby who was born to die for me.

I bought this tin nativity before I was married. It was probably my first nativity set when I lived alone. It is punched tin and painted to look distressed and aged.

Finally, I leave you with one of my favorite Christmas decorations. It belonged to my mother until two years ago when she gave it to me. I love it because it reminds me of the posture of everyone at Christmas, even the big guy in the red suit. If you say, "Merry Christmas" to me, you acknowledge my Savior's birthday, whether you confess your belief in Him or not. You see, He is the reason for the season no matter what anyone believes. That is a fact that cannot be argued.